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Home » Drinks » Alcoholic Drinks

Disaronno Sour (Amaretto Sour)

July 21, 2021 by Jane Saunders 6 Comments

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An Amaretto sour cocktail garnished with egg white foam and cocktail cherries with text overlay
An Amaretto sour cocktail garnished with egg white foam and cocktail cherries
An Amaretto sour cocktail garnished with egg white foam and cocktail cherries

Disaronno sour is a classic cocktail using Amaretto liqueur. The addition of bourbon turns this version of the Amaretto sour into a gorgeous, well-balanced libation that has its sweet and sourness perfectly in tune with each other.

A Disaronno Amaretto sour cocktail garnished with egg white foam and cocktail cherries

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Contents hide
1 Reasons to Make This Amaretto Sour
2 What is Amaretto?
3 Ingredients
4 Step-by-Step Instructions
5 Expert Tips
6 Frequently Asked Questions
7 More Sour Cocktails
8 Disaronno Sour (Amaretto Sour)

Often falling foul of being overly sweetened and ruined by pre-made sour mix, the Disaronno Sour is a drink that often gets a bad press. But when made with quality ingredients and a cautious approach to any added sweetener, it can be a true delight.

My recipe today is exactly that. This Amaretto sour is a luscious blend of sweet Amaretto, robust bourbon and a gentle injection of fresh lemon juice. Quality ingredients ensure this cocktail is just sweet (and sour) enough whilst maintaining plenty of exciting flavour.

I may not be the first person to discover the delight of adding bourbon to this classic Amaretto cocktail (I think that was Jeffrey Morganthaler), but I do agree, it’s a very welcome addition.

A Disaronno sour with an egg white foam top in a sours glass

If you enjoy sours cocktails do give my rum sour a try. It’s just as delicious as this cocktail.

Reasons to Make This Amaretto Sour

  • It’s quick and easy to make
  • It’s tangy with the tart lemon flavour balancing the sweetness from the liqueur
  • The inclusion of a little bourbon stops this Amaretto sour from being too sweet
  • Sugar syrup is entirely optional (take a sip before adding any to your drink)
  • Bourbon also adds a burst of boozy oomph to this easygoing drink

In the recipe card, I have included 2 Disaronno sour recipes. There’s the version with bourbon (my favourite) and the more classic version, without bourbon. Try them both and see which one you prefer.

What is Amaretto?

Amaretto is an Italian liqueur renown for having a sweet almond flavour reminiscent of marzipan and Battenberg cakes. Depending on the brand, it may be made from apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach stones, or almonds.

It is frequently enjoyed on its own, over ice, in coffee or mixed into cocktails. But it can also be the star ingredient in baking recipes. See my Italian cheesecake or Tiramisu for proof.

I’m very picky when it comes to Amaretto and will only ever use Disaronno. Why? Because I’ve tried several alternative brands and the flavour has not compared favourably.

Ingredients

Ingredients for an Amaretto drink with text overlay

Choose your Amaretto wisely. Disaronno is 28% abv and many alternatives are much lower (20%). This difference is especially important when it comes to the Amaretto sour listed here, as the recipe has been developed with a 28% Amaretto in mind. It’s well worth hunting one out.

The egg white creates that wonderfully foamy top that looks so good on the top of cocktails. Use it if you can as the overall mouthfeel of the cocktail is enhanced remarkably by this ingredient too. For readers following a vegan or egg-free diet, it can be left out or substituted for aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas).

Step-by-Step Instructions

Making this Disaronno sour is very simple and takes mere minutes:

  1. Pour the Disaronno Amaretto, bourbon (if using), lemon juice and egg white into a cocktail shaker. Do not add ice
  2. Secure the lid and shake hard for 30 seconds
  3. Now add the ice
  4. Shake for a further 30 seconds
  5. Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with the cherries and serve
Step by step images to making an alcohol drink with egg white white as an ingredient

Expert Tips

  • Decide what glass you would like to serve this drink in. Opt for a sours glass (as pictured) if you do not want to serve it over ice. Alternatively, load a tumble with large ice cubes and pour it in
  • Use an Amaretto with an abv level of 28% such as Disaronno. This cocktail recipe has been devised based on this type of Amaretto and using a weaker one may not yield the best balance of flavours
  • Use plenty of ice to ensure the drink is well chilled
  • If you do not own a cocktail shaker use a large glass jar with a screwtop lid instead
  • Once mixed take a sip before pouring. Adjust the flavours to suit your own requirements:
    • if it’s too sour add a little sugar syrup
    • if it’s too sweet add a little more lemon and/ or bourbon

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there no sugar syrup in this sour cocktail?

Typically sours cocktails do include sugar syrup to tone down the harshness of the alcohol and the citrus juice. However, the Amaretto in the Disaronno sour is sweet enough to render sugar syrup unnecessary for the majority of drinkers.

If you have a very sweet tooth it is, of course, perfectly acceptable to add sugar syrup to taste. Shake up the drink as instructed, take a small taste and then add in sugar syrup as required. Don’t forget to reshake the cocktail if sugar syrup is added.

Why do I shake this cocktail twice?

Whenever egg white is used in a cocktail, it is to create texture in the drink itself and a gorgeous foamy top. It’s best to perform a dry shake (without ice) first to let the protein in the egg begin to form foam and then to shake again, after ice has been added, to cool and dilute the drink and strengthen the foam.

Can I leave out the egg white?

Of course. The drink will have a slightly different, less velvety texture, but it will still be tasty. In this case, simply add all liquid ingredients to the cocktail shaker along with ice, then shake, pour and garnish with the cherries.

Aquafaba can be used in place of the egg white for a vegan alternative. Try adding 2 tablespoons.

An Amaretto sour cocktail garnished with egg white foam and cocktail cherries

More Sour Cocktails

Due to the very nature of Disaronno, this Amaretto sour is a relatively sweet sours cocktail. If you are after something a little sharper one of these sours may appeal:

Rum Sour Cocktail
Check out this recipe
Close up of a rum sour cocktail with egg white foam garnish.
Aperol Sour with Maple Syrup and Rosemary
Check out this recipe
Aperol sour - featured image
Italicus Cocktail – A Bergamot and Camomile Gin Sour
Check out this recipe
A gin sour with bergamot and camomile. Garnished with egg white foam and dehydrated lemon
Violet Blueberry Gin Sour
Check out this recipe
Violet Blueberry Gin Sour garnisged with blueberries and flowers

If you have tried this Amaretto sour recipe please give it a rating or leave a comment – I love to hear how you get along with my creations.

Why not sign up to receive LittleSugarSnaps newsletters to hear when new recipes are published? You’ll get a free welcome e-book with my top baking tips and 5 favourite cake recipes. Or stay in touch on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest.

An Amaretto sour cocktail garnished with egg white foam and cocktail cherries

Disaronno Sour (Amaretto Sour)

Jane Saunders
Disaronno sour is a classic cocktail using Amaretto liqueur. The addition of bourbon turns this version of the Amaretto sour into a gorgeous, well-balanced libation that has its sweet and sourness perfectly in tune with each other.
5 from 8 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Italian, Worldwide
Diet: Vegetarian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Calories: 201kcal

Equipment

  • A cocktail shaker or a large jar with a screwtop lid
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Ingredients

Disaronno Sour with Bourbon

  • 40 ml Disaronno Amaretto or alternative Amaretto liqueur with 28% abv, 2 parts
  • 20 ml Bourbon 1 part
  • 20 ml Lemon juice 1 part
  • 20 ml Egg white 1 part
  • 2 Maraschino cocktail cherries
  • Ice

Disaronno Sour without Bourbon

  • 60 ml Disaronno amaretto 6 parts
  • 30 ml Lemon juice 3 parts
  • 20 ml Egg white 2 parts
  • 2 Maraschino cocktail cherries
  • Ice

Instructions

  • Pour the Disaronno, bourbon (if using), lemon juice and egg white into a cocktail shaker – do not add ice at this stage
  • Secure the lid of the cocktail shaker and shake hard for 30 seconds (this is the dry shake)
  • Now add the ice and put the lid back on
  • Shake for a further 30 seconds (this is the wet shake)
  • Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with the cherries and serve

Notes

  • Decide what glass you would like to serve this drink in. Opt for a sours glass (as pictured) if you do not want to serve it over ice. Alternatively, load a tumble with large ice cubes and pour it in
  • Use an Amaretto with an abv level of 28% such as Disaronno. This cocktail recipe has been devised based on this type of Amaretto and using a weaker one may not yield the best balance of flavours
  • Use plenty of ice to ensure the drink is well chilled
  • If you do not own a cocktail shaker use a large glass jar with a screwtop lid instead
  • This Disaronno sour is sweet enough to render sugar syrup unnecessary for the majority of drinkers. It is, of course, perfectly acceptable to add sugar syrup to taste. Shake up the drink as instructed, take a small taste and then add in sugar syrup as required. Don’t forget to reshake the cocktail if sugar syrup is added
  • Alternatively, if the cocktail is too sweet for your liking, add a little more lemon and/ or bourbon
  • Don’t skip the dry shake – this enables the protein in the egg white to begin to form foam. Once ice has been added a second shake then serves to cool and dilute the drink and strengthen the foam
  • For a vegan/ egg-free version, simply leave out the egg white or use aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) in place of the egg white. Try adding 2 tablespoons
 
Note: Nutritional values are calculated on the basis of the Disaronno sour with bourbon

Nutrition Per Serving (Approximate)

Calories:201kcal | Carbohydrates:19g | Protein:2g | Fat:1g | Saturated Fat:1g | Polyunsaturated Fat:1g | Monounsaturated Fat:1g | Sodium:37mg | Potassium:68mg | Fiber:1g | Sugar:17g | Vitamin A:6IU | Vitamin C:8mg | Calcium:8mg | Iron:1mg
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  1. Sharon

    January 14, 2023 at 2:29 am

    5 stars
    Simple and delicious. Great sipper drink. Boyfriend and I made tonight and loved the flavour!

    Reply
    • Jane Saunders

      January 14, 2023 at 12:35 pm

      Thanks so much for your comment Sharon – I’m pleased you both enjoyed it!

      Reply
  2. Angela Everson

    January 22, 2022 at 5:40 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! Didn’t have the cherries on hand, but had everything else for a lovely after work cocktail.
    I saved it to make again… thanks!!

    Reply
    • Jane Saunders

      January 24, 2022 at 10:54 am

      Excellent – thanks so much for the feedback. It’s a particularly delicious drink.

      Reply
      • Ryan Moffatt

        January 01, 2023 at 11:26 pm

        Hi there, I am going to make the Disaranno sour tomorrow for the first time. Just a question about measurements. I have a cocktail measure, would do you recommend per cocktail regarding Disaranno, whiskey & lemon juice. Also is it 1 egg white per cocktail or can I put 1 egg white in to shake for 2 cocktails? Hope to hear from you soon, thanks

      • Jane Saunders

        January 01, 2023 at 11:38 pm

        Hi Ryan, excellent – it’s a great cocktail. The measurements are all in the recipe card at the bottom of the post, but it’s basically 2 parts Amaretto to 1 part each of bourbon, lemon, and egg white. Hope you love it!

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